CIIT Committee Meeting
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Minutes of Proceedings
Conservative
Bloc Québécois
The witnesses answered questions.
The committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 (short title) was postponed.
The Chair called Clause 2.
By unanimous consent, Clauses 2 to 15 inclusive carried severally.
On new Clause 15.1,
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay moved, — That Bill C-18 be amended by adding after line 6 on page 6 the following new clause:“Compliance with Principles and Guidelines — Palm Oil Industry
15.1 (1) Within 12 months after the day on which the Agreement comes into force, the Minister must appoint an expert group that is responsible for
(a) ensuring that companies operating oil palm plantations in Indonesia whose products are imported into Canada comply with the applicable standards respecting human rights, internationally recognized labour rights and environmental protection, including as regards deforestation;
(b) receiving and responding to complaints of non-compliance with those standards;
(c) evaluating traceability and due diligence mechanisms for ensuring compliance with the standards referred to in paragraph (a); and
(d) making recommendations to the Minister respecting any legislative, regulatory or administrative measures necessary to prevent the importation of products that do not comply with the standards referred to in paragraph (a).
(2) On or before January 1 of each year starting on the first anniversary of the day of its appointment, the expert group must submit to the Minister a report that summarizes the activities carried out in relation to its obligations under this section.
(3) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 30 days on which that House is sitting after the report is received.”
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as stated in section 16.77 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition.
Whereupon, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay appealed the decision of the Chair.
The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Peter Fonseca, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Yasir Naqvi — 4;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Laila Goodridge, Jacob Mantle, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, William Stevenson — 5.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 1;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Peter Fonseca, Laila Goodridge, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Jacob Mantle, Yasir Naqvi, William Stevenson — 8.
“Compliance with Principles and Guidelines — Palm Oil Industry
15.1 (1) The Minister must ensure that companies operating oil palm plantations in Indonesia whose products are imported into Canada comply with the applicable standards respecting environmental protection — including as regards deforestation — human rights and internationally recognized labour rights, including by
(a) establishing a process for receiving and responding to complaints of non-compliance with those standards;
(b) establishing and periodically evaluating traceability and due diligence mechanisms for ensuring compliance with the standards; and
(c) making recommendations respecting any legislative, regulatory or administrative measures necessary to prevent the importation of products that do not comply with the standards.
(2) On or before January 1 of each year starting in 2027, the Minister must prepare a report that summarizes the activities carried out in relation to the Minister's obligations under this section.
(3) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 30 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.”
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 1;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Peter Fonseca, Laila Goodridge, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Jacob Mantle, Yasir Naqvi, William Stevenson — 8.
“Compliance with Principles and Guidelines — Canadian Companies
15.1 (1) Within 12 months after the day on which the Agreement comes into force, the Minister must appoint an expert group that is responsible for
(a) ensuring that Canadian companies operating in Indonesia comply with the principles and guidelines referred to in article 22.15 of the Agreement; and
(b) receiving and responding to complaints of non-compliance with those principles and guidelines.
(2) On or before January 1 of each year starting on the first anniversary of the day of its appointment, the expert group must submit to the Minister a report that summarizes the activities carried out in relation to its obligations under this section.
(3) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 30 days on which that House is sitting after the report is received.”
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as stated in section 16.77 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition.
Whereupon, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay appealed the decision of the Chair.
The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Peter Fonseca, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Yasir Naqvi — 4;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Laila Goodridge, Jacob Mantle, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, William Stevenson — 5.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 1;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Peter Fonseca, Laila Goodridge, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Jacob Mantle, Yasir Naqvi, William Stevenson — 8.
“Compliance with Principles and Guidelines — Canadian Companies
15.1 (1) The Minister must ensure that Canadian companies operating in Indonesia comply with the principles and guidelines referred to in article 22.15 of the Agreement.
(2) The Minister must establish a process for receiving and responding to complaints of non-compliance with those principles and guidelines.
(3) On or before January 1 of each year starting in 2027, the Minister must prepare a report that summarizes the activities carried out in relation to the Minister’s obligations under this section.
(4) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 30 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.”
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Adam Chambers, Peter Fonseca, Laila Goodridge, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Jacob Mantle, Yasir Naqvi, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, William Stevenson — 9;
NAYS: — 0.
“15.1 (1) Within three years after the day on which this section comes into force, and every three years after that, a comprehensive review of the operation of this Act and of the Agreement, and of their effect, must be undertaken by a committee of the House of Commons that is designated or established by the House for that purpose.
(2) The committee must, within six months after the completion of the review, submit to the House of Commons a report setting out its findings and recommendations.”
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 0.
By unanimous consent, Clauses 16 to 25 inclusive carried severally.
Clause 26 carried on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Adam Chambers, Peter Fonseca, Laila Goodridge, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Jacob Mantle, Yasir Naqvi, William Stevenson — 8;
NAYS: Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 1.
By unanimous consent, Clauses 27 to 36 inclusive carried severally.
On new Clause 36.1,
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay moved, — That Bill C-18 be amended by adding after line 21 on page 12 the following new clause:“2008, c. 8
Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act
36.1 The Settlement of International Investment Disputes Act is amended by adding the following after section 11:
11.1 (1) Within four months after the end of each fiscal year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall prepare a report setting out the outcomes and costs of the proceedings concluded during that fiscal year and the status of proceedings in progress under the Convention.
(2) The Minister shall cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed.”
The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it sought to amend sections of the parent Act not amended by the Bill, as provided in section 16.75 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition.
Whereupon, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay appealed the decision of the Chair.
The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Peter Fonseca, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Yasir Naqvi — 4;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Laila Goodridge, Jacob Mantle, Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, William Stevenson — 5.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — 1;
NAYS: Adam Chambers, Peter Fonseca, Laila Goodridge, Linda Lapointe, Steeve Lavoie, Jacob Mantle, Yasir Naqvi, William Stevenson — 8.
By unanimous consent, Clauses 37 to 45 inclusive carried severally.
Schedule 1 carried.
Schedule 2 carried.
Clause 1, Short Title, carried.
The Title carried.
The Bill, as amended, was adopted on division.
ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.
ORDERED, — That Bill C-18, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House of Commons at report stage.
At 11:46 a.m., the meeting was suspended.
At 12:03 p.m., the meeting resumed.
It was agreed, — That, notwithstanding the usual practices of the committee concerning access to and distribution of documents,
- up to three associate members of the committee per party be authorized to receive the notices of meetings and notices of motion and be granted access to the digital binder;
- that the associate members be designated by the offices of the whips of each recognized party and sent to the committee clerk; and
- that the provisions of this motion expire as of Friday, September 25, 2026, unless otherwise ordered.
At 12:06 p.m., the meeting was suspended.
At 12:16 p.m., the meeting resumed.
It was agreed, —
That, the Standing Committee on International Trade shall adopt the following work plan:
- That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee hold no fewer than two (2) meetings to examine the Government’s recent memorandum of understanding and development of its diplomatic relationships with China and Qatar and the impact of these developments on Canada’s industries and economy, as well as its diplomatic and trading relationships with allies including the United States and; that the Committee invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Canada–U.S. Trade, to appear for two hours; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.
- That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a pre-study on strengthening and diversifying Canada’s trade relations with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), a regional economic bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, representing a combined market of over 270 million people and significant strategic potential for Canadian exporters;
That the study, among other things, examine:
- priority sectors for cooperation, including agri-food, clean energy and technologies, critical minerals, life sciences, aerospace, and digital innovation;
- barriers and opportunities for Canadian businesses entering MERCOSUR markets, including tariff and non-tariff measures, regulatory alignment, and infrastructure challenges;
- the role of MERCOSUR in advancing Canada’s trade diversification strategy, including through bilateral and multilateral trade agreements;
- opportunities for collaboration on sustainable development, inclusive growth, and regional stability; and
That the committee hold no less than two (2) meetings, inviting witnesses from the public and private sectors, as well as representatives from MERCOSUR member states, and report its findings to the House.
- That, pursuant to its mandate to promote Canada’s international trade interests, the Committee undertake a study on opportunities to diversify Canada’s trade with North and West Africa, in order to capitalize on the regions’ economic momentum, strengthen Canada’s presence on the African continent, and leverage the Francophonie as a strategic channel to expand trade and partnerships;
That the study examine, among other topics:
- high-potential sectors for Canadian businesses, including SMEs;
- existing and potential trade tools, including export financing, trade facilitation, and reduction of non-tariff barriers;
- partnership and innovation opportunities between Canada, the provinces, and regional African organizations;
- sustainability, governance, and inclusion considerations to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes;
- Canada’s role in supporting regional value chains and industrial co-production;
- opportunities within the Francophonie to facilitate trade, including institutional cooperation, business and innovation networks, mutual recognition of standards, and mobility of talent;
That the Committee hold no less than (2) meetings, invite witnesses from government, industry, academia, and civil society in Canada and the regions concerned, and report its findings and recommendations to the House.
- That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee, recognizing that the existing Canadian Free Trade Agreement is based on rules generally used for international free trade agreements, hold no fewer than four meetings to study the Prime Minister's promise to deliver “free trade in Canada by Canada Day” 2025; and that the committee identify and report to the House interprovincial trade barriers and recommendations to remove such barriers; and that, the committee invite:
- President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy;
- Minister of Transport;
- Minister of Industry;
- Minister of Energy and Natural Resources;
- Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- Minister of Health;
- Other ministers, officials, and relevant individuals as desired by the committee.
- That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on strengthening and diversifying Canada’s trade relations with Japan, a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, in order to increase economic opportunities for Canadian businesses and strengthen the resilience of our supply chains;
That the study, among other things, examine:
- priority areas of cooperation, including critical minerals, new materials, innovation (AI, quantum, clean tech), advanced technologies, life sciences, aerospace, and agri-food
- key barriers and access levers to the Japanese market for Canadian businesses;
- opportunities for strategic partnerships, investment and innovation within the framework of the CPTPP and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy;
That the Committee no less than (2) meetings, invite Canadian and Japanese witnesses; and report its findings to the House.
- That the Committee:
- write to remind the government that Canada’s signature of the cooperation agreement with Taiwan has been pending since April 2025, while emphasizing that Taiwan is a reliable and democratic partner that does not rely on forced labour;
- request that the government specify the anticipated timelines for the ratification of this agreement;
- invite the Minister of International Trade to appear before the Committee to answer members’ questions on this matter; and
- transmit this motion and the letter referred to in paragraph a) to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of the Minister of International Trade; and that the Committee report its efforts to the House.
Regarding the schedule, the committee shall proceed with its work in the above listed order, with the understanding that the Chair may deviate from this schedule provided there is consensus from all parties.
At 12:21 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.